when I was eight months old my mother
died in a car accident going to visit my
father who was in prison at the time for
the first eight years of my life my
father was incarcerated during those
eight years my older brother my twin
brother and I lived with our grandmother
who did the best she could but struggled
with alcohol addiction so occasionally
we bounced around living with relatives
or in foster care we would eventually go
live with our father upon his release
from prison we grew up poor on public
assistance in affordable housing and
Roxbury in the South End I was blessed
to go to some incredible Boston Public
Schools five of them including Boston
Latin School I graduated Latin and
attended and graduated from Princeton
University and UCLA Law School my father
however would not live to see me
graduate when I was a sophomore at
Princeton 19 years old I talked to him
in the morning he died that evening in
spite of all of this I am here here as
an example of God’s grace I am also here
because of my twin brother Andre this
year marks six years since Andre passed
away and to this day my family and I
still don’t know how he died or under
what circumstances what we do know is
that he was in the custody of the
Department of Correction held as a
pre-trial detainee for two years he had
a disease called scleroderma an
autoimmune disease no cure for it and
while in their custody
as a result of receiving inadequate
health care passes away he was 29 years
old as you can imagine his loss had a
tremendous effect on me
I question why am I here what is my
purpose in how and why could two twins
born and raised in the city of Boston
have such different life outcomes for me
the work of being an elected and public
servant has always been in response to
me searching to fulfill my god-given
purpose after his passing that purpose
is the very reason I decided to run for
office and challenge our 32 year
incumbent when I had no name recognition
and to win I could never have imagined
that the council would be the platform
not only to share his story our story
but also to work on policies that would
ensure that we don’t continue to get
divergent life outcomes I’m also here
because of a quote unquote a criminal my
father was born and raised in Boston in
1933 what most do not know is that he
was extremely intelligent
after graduating from Boston Tech in
1951 he was accepted to Princeton
University but he chose not to attend he
chose a different path hoping as the
eldest of seven that it would allow him
to provide for his family instead it led
to long periods of incarceration my
father like so many people of color in
the city of Boston felt a frustration
that even if you work hard and I mean
extremely hard and do all the right
things you were still marginalized you
were still relegated to low-wage jobs
poor housing stock neighborhoods
concentrated in poverty was low
performing schools that frustration was
exacerbated by the fact that in the
1930s 40s 50s and 60s you were
explicitly told that this
marginalization and exclusion was
underneath my father’s anger and
resentment he like so many other fathers
and mothers in the city of Boston wanted
more for his children and so although he
didn’t make it to Princeton I did I’m
also here because of my aunt Marie who
immigrated from El Salvador and my
grandparents who came here from Scotland
Germany and Jamaica I’m also here
because of teachers and mentors who
always held me to high expectations and
insisted I could reach my dreams I’m
here because of a gentleman named John
Hamilton a Princeton alum in Harvard Law
School alum who took me under his wing
after I said I wanted to be a lawyer I’m
here because of so many relatives that
stepped in after my parents passing
including my aunt and uncle Ron and
Louis Savage my former foster parent
aunt dot a white woman yes a white woman
who is very much a part of our family I
am also here because of total strangers
who contributed to a campaign and
believed in me and I stand here today
and my third year on the council as the
first black woman to serve as the
president of the Boston City Council I
am here because my colleagues seven
white men five women of color elected me
to that role the point is this none of
us got here by ourselves because of each
of those individuals and so many more I
am here each has contributed and touched
my life to make me who I am and how I
show up in this world we each have our
own histories unique histories and
experiences would say segregation
incarceration immigration inequities
that shows up differently in our lives
we have to create spaces
like this so share those unique
histories with one another in order to
build deeper understanding and Trust all
those individuals some of which I named
who contributed to my life they allow me
not to just define myself as a woman or
black through my experiences with them I
am connected to folks who do not look
like me who didn’t grow up in the city
government I think must create spaces in
order for us to share our stories and
unique histories with one another and
why government which has a direct hand
in molding these histories must create
these spaces government also has to
include more stories stories that aren’t
currently shared or represented I share
my story often because I know it too
belongs in government and leadership
this belief that we are all in this
together because none of us got here by
ourselves I think is especially needed
and elected and public servants and
policy makers especially given the
incredible role that government plays in
our daily lives from picking up your
trash your recycling to funding in
operating our schools addressing racism
sexism inequities ensuring our veterans
have jobs when they come back our
homeless have places to go
our addicted have services this belief
is I think essential I also know that
this belief is what allowed me to bridge
perceived differences between me and my
colleagues on the council I worked for
example with council Flaherty a white
older much older
longtime counselor from Southie regardless of the painful histories of
regardless of the painful histories of the neighborhood’s we grew up in we
the neighborhood’s we grew up in we created a space we co-sponsor the
created a space we co-sponsor the Community Preservation Act and we came
Community Preservation Act and we came together and we said let’s work together
together and we said let’s work together because we could recognize that those
because we could recognize that those neighborhoods we grew up in both needed
neighborhoods we grew up in both needed more affordable housing more parks more
more affordable housing more parks more open space more recreation more Historic
open space more recreation more Historic Preservation the same is true for my
Preservation the same is true for my colleague councillor co-moh my Italian
colleague councillor co-moh my Italian colleague from and also much older from
colleague from and also much older from Austin Brighton who serves as my vice
Austin Brighton who serves as my vice president on the council we need to see
president on the council we need to see the humanity in one another and
the humanity in one another and understand that our identities are
understand that our identities are formed and built upon shared foundations
formed and built upon shared foundations otherwise I think we’re going to exclude
otherwise I think we’re going to exclude certain people from playing a role in
certain people from playing a role in building solutions or we might just call
building solutions or we might just call on for example the black electeds when
on for example the black electeds when responding to incidents of violence or
responding to incidents of violence or race or solely the woman when addressing
race or solely the woman when addressing issues of sexual harassment now you yes
issues of sexual harassment now you yes you’re all here all of you I want you to
you’re all here all of you I want you to take a moment and think about all of the
take a moment and think about all of the individuals who have touched your life
individuals who have touched your life who have gotten you where you are who
who have gotten you where you are who have made you who you are and pave the
have made you who you are and pave the way for you there are some obvious
way for you there are some obvious choices your parents your grandparents
choices your parents your grandparents maybe a teacher a neighbor or a coach
maybe a teacher a neighbor or a coach but who else I am sure that if you dig a
but who else I am sure that if you dig a little deeper you will find that there
little deeper you will find that there are folks who do not look like you who
are folks who do not look like you who don’t share your socioeconomic status
don’t share your socioeconomic status your race your gender who didn’t come
your race your gender who didn’t come from where you come from who don’t even
from where you come from who don’t even think like you think who touched your
think like you think who touched your life whether directly or indirectly who
life whether directly or indirectly who are those individuals and do you know
are those individuals and do you know anything about
anything about their unique histories and experiences
their unique histories and experiences have you ever taken time to listen to
have you ever taken time to listen to them share the tables that you all sit
them share the tables that you all sit at which perspectives are represented
at which perspectives are represented whether in your home your boardrooms
whether in your home your boardrooms your classrooms your friends groups or
your classrooms your friends groups or any of these other individuals
any of these other individuals represented and if not what is lost upon
represented and if not what is lost upon you and your leadership because of that
you and your leadership because of that I am absolutely confident that we can
I am absolutely confident that we can solve the issues that plagued the city
solve the issues that plagued the city of Boston and not get more Andre’s or
of Boston and not get more Andre’s or disparate life outcomes I am sure that
disparate life outcomes I am sure that we can serve more residents and build a
we can serve more residents and build a deeper trust between our residents and
deeper trust between our residents and their government and I think the only
their government and I think the only way we do that is working together and
way we do that is working together and allowing all of our stories and
allowing all of our stories and experiences to inform the work thank you
experiences to inform the work thank you [Applause]
died in a car accident going to visit my
father who was in prison at the time for
the first eight years of my life my
father was incarcerated during those
eight years my older brother my twin
brother and I lived with our grandmother
who did the best she could but struggled
with alcohol addiction so occasionally
we bounced around living with relatives
or in foster care we would eventually go
live with our father upon his release
from prison we grew up poor on public
assistance in affordable housing and
Roxbury in the South End I was blessed
to go to some incredible Boston Public
Schools five of them including Boston
Latin School I graduated Latin and
attended and graduated from Princeton
University and UCLA Law School my father
however would not live to see me
graduate when I was a sophomore at
Princeton 19 years old I talked to him
in the morning he died that evening in
spite of all of this I am here here as
an example of God’s grace I am also here
because of my twin brother Andre this
year marks six years since Andre passed
away and to this day my family and I
still don’t know how he died or under
what circumstances what we do know is
that he was in the custody of the
Department of Correction held as a
pre-trial detainee for two years he had
a disease called scleroderma an
autoimmune disease no cure for it and
while in their custody
as a result of receiving inadequate
health care passes away he was 29 years
old as you can imagine his loss had a
tremendous effect on me
I question why am I here what is my
purpose in how and why could two twins
born and raised in the city of Boston
have such different life outcomes for me
the work of being an elected and public
servant has always been in response to
me searching to fulfill my god-given
purpose after his passing that purpose
is the very reason I decided to run for
office and challenge our 32 year
incumbent when I had no name recognition
and to win I could never have imagined
that the council would be the platform
not only to share his story our story
but also to work on policies that would
ensure that we don’t continue to get
divergent life outcomes I’m also here
because of a quote unquote a criminal my
father was born and raised in Boston in
1933 what most do not know is that he
was extremely intelligent
after graduating from Boston Tech in
1951 he was accepted to Princeton
University but he chose not to attend he
chose a different path hoping as the
eldest of seven that it would allow him
to provide for his family instead it led
to long periods of incarceration my
father like so many people of color in
the city of Boston felt a frustration
that even if you work hard and I mean
extremely hard and do all the right
things you were still marginalized you
were still relegated to low-wage jobs
poor housing stock neighborhoods
concentrated in poverty was low
performing schools that frustration was
exacerbated by the fact that in the
1930s 40s 50s and 60s you were
explicitly told that this
marginalization and exclusion was
underneath my father’s anger and
resentment he like so many other fathers
and mothers in the city of Boston wanted
more for his children and so although he
didn’t make it to Princeton I did I’m
also here because of my aunt Marie who
immigrated from El Salvador and my
grandparents who came here from Scotland
Germany and Jamaica I’m also here
because of teachers and mentors who
always held me to high expectations and
insisted I could reach my dreams I’m
here because of a gentleman named John
Hamilton a Princeton alum in Harvard Law
School alum who took me under his wing
after I said I wanted to be a lawyer I’m
here because of so many relatives that
stepped in after my parents passing
including my aunt and uncle Ron and
Louis Savage my former foster parent
aunt dot a white woman yes a white woman
who is very much a part of our family I
am also here because of total strangers
who contributed to a campaign and
believed in me and I stand here today
and my third year on the council as the
first black woman to serve as the
president of the Boston City Council I
am here because my colleagues seven
white men five women of color elected me
to that role the point is this none of
us got here by ourselves because of each
of those individuals and so many more I
am here each has contributed and touched
my life to make me who I am and how I
show up in this world we each have our
own histories unique histories and
experiences would say segregation
incarceration immigration inequities
that shows up differently in our lives
we have to create spaces
like this so share those unique
histories with one another in order to
build deeper understanding and Trust all
those individuals some of which I named
who contributed to my life they allow me
not to just define myself as a woman or
black through my experiences with them I
am connected to folks who do not look
like me who didn’t grow up in the city
government I think must create spaces in
order for us to share our stories and
unique histories with one another and
why government which has a direct hand
in molding these histories must create
these spaces government also has to
include more stories stories that aren’t
currently shared or represented I share
my story often because I know it too
belongs in government and leadership
this belief that we are all in this
together because none of us got here by
ourselves I think is especially needed
and elected and public servants and
policy makers especially given the
incredible role that government plays in
our daily lives from picking up your
trash your recycling to funding in
operating our schools addressing racism
sexism inequities ensuring our veterans
have jobs when they come back our
homeless have places to go
our addicted have services this belief
is I think essential I also know that
this belief is what allowed me to bridge
perceived differences between me and my
colleagues on the council I worked for
example with council Flaherty a white
older much older
longtime counselor from Southie regardless of the painful histories of
regardless of the painful histories of the neighborhood’s we grew up in we
the neighborhood’s we grew up in we created a space we co-sponsor the
created a space we co-sponsor the Community Preservation Act and we came
Community Preservation Act and we came together and we said let’s work together
together and we said let’s work together because we could recognize that those
because we could recognize that those neighborhoods we grew up in both needed
neighborhoods we grew up in both needed more affordable housing more parks more
more affordable housing more parks more open space more recreation more Historic
open space more recreation more Historic Preservation the same is true for my
Preservation the same is true for my colleague councillor co-moh my Italian
colleague councillor co-moh my Italian colleague from and also much older from
colleague from and also much older from Austin Brighton who serves as my vice
Austin Brighton who serves as my vice president on the council we need to see
president on the council we need to see the humanity in one another and
the humanity in one another and understand that our identities are
understand that our identities are formed and built upon shared foundations
formed and built upon shared foundations otherwise I think we’re going to exclude
otherwise I think we’re going to exclude certain people from playing a role in
certain people from playing a role in building solutions or we might just call
building solutions or we might just call on for example the black electeds when
on for example the black electeds when responding to incidents of violence or
responding to incidents of violence or race or solely the woman when addressing
race or solely the woman when addressing issues of sexual harassment now you yes
issues of sexual harassment now you yes you’re all here all of you I want you to
you’re all here all of you I want you to take a moment and think about all of the
take a moment and think about all of the individuals who have touched your life
individuals who have touched your life who have gotten you where you are who
who have gotten you where you are who have made you who you are and pave the
have made you who you are and pave the way for you there are some obvious
way for you there are some obvious choices your parents your grandparents
choices your parents your grandparents maybe a teacher a neighbor or a coach
maybe a teacher a neighbor or a coach but who else I am sure that if you dig a
but who else I am sure that if you dig a little deeper you will find that there
little deeper you will find that there are folks who do not look like you who
are folks who do not look like you who don’t share your socioeconomic status
don’t share your socioeconomic status your race your gender who didn’t come
your race your gender who didn’t come from where you come from who don’t even
from where you come from who don’t even think like you think who touched your
think like you think who touched your life whether directly or indirectly who
life whether directly or indirectly who are those individuals and do you know
are those individuals and do you know anything about
anything about their unique histories and experiences
their unique histories and experiences have you ever taken time to listen to
have you ever taken time to listen to them share the tables that you all sit
them share the tables that you all sit at which perspectives are represented
at which perspectives are represented whether in your home your boardrooms
whether in your home your boardrooms your classrooms your friends groups or
your classrooms your friends groups or any of these other individuals
any of these other individuals represented and if not what is lost upon
represented and if not what is lost upon you and your leadership because of that
you and your leadership because of that I am absolutely confident that we can
I am absolutely confident that we can solve the issues that plagued the city
solve the issues that plagued the city of Boston and not get more Andre’s or
of Boston and not get more Andre’s or disparate life outcomes I am sure that
disparate life outcomes I am sure that we can serve more residents and build a
we can serve more residents and build a deeper trust between our residents and
deeper trust between our residents and their government and I think the only
their government and I think the only way we do that is working together and
way we do that is working together and allowing all of our stories and
allowing all of our stories and experiences to inform the work thank you
experiences to inform the work thank you [Applause]
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